Adult Financial Literacy Programs

ABA Eduation Foundation's Get Smart About Credit Day Program
As a banker you are uniquely qualified to educate consumers about the wise use of credit. This national event helps young people learn the dos and don’ts about credit now, so they’ll make smart decisions later. Join bankers across the nation in educating high school and college students on Get Smart About Credit Day. A "Cookie-cutter" toolkit is available for purchase from the ABA or through the MBA.

Federal Reserve Money $mart
The Detroit Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, the MBA, and local organizations joined together to create Money $mart Week last year.Our mission is to combat financial illiteracy and provide greater education to consumers in Michigan. The goal was to provide education aimed primarily at the elderly, unbanked, and children. Although financial illiteracy isn't limited to these demographics, they are the most likely to over-extend their credit, make poor financial choices, become victims of identity theft and potentially seek bankruptcy as a cure for financial woes.

FDIC Money Smart
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) recognizes the importance of financial education, particularly for people with little or no banking experience. That's why they created Money Smart, a training program to help adults outside the financial mainstream enhance their money skills and create positive banking relationships. The training material is free and covers banking basics, credit, home ownership, loans, etc. The free resource CD can be ordered in English, Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese, or Chinese. Free CD-ROMVisa – Practical Money Skills for Teachers
Offers a wide variety of lesson plans for children of all ages and adults. Topics vary and cover banking essentials.

Wells Fargo – Hands on Banking
A useful site to send children to learn about banking issues. The site is interactive allowing students to take self-guided tours through the lessons. It has sections for Elementary, Junior and Senior High, and Adult students. It also offers resources for teachers. Products are available in English or Spanish.

Insight Center for Community Economic Development
Insight Center for Community Economic Development links community development practitioners with existing downloadable materials on the web and economic information of concern to low-income communities. The information is free and is available in English, Spanish, Asian languages, and Russian.

Operation Hope
Operation HOPE, a national nonprofit self-help organization, seeks to bring economic self-sufficiency and a sustained spirit of revitalization to America’s inner city communities. Banks can become partners and help this organization further their goal.

K-12 Financial Literacy Programs

USA TODAY

USA TODAY's Financial Literacy Program is designed to offer students the opportunity to understand real-world financial lessons within the pages of USA TODAY. The program resources assist in introducing young adults to the basics of credit, the importance of saving money and budgeting and strengthening students' overall financial literacy skills.

To see a sample of a daily lesson plan that arrives with every bundle of newspapers, click here. For a sample of a pre-designed financial literacy lesson plan, click here

To learn more about the USA TODAY financial literacy program, contact Lauri Steeland , USA TODAY education specialist, at 248-926-0200 ext. 210 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Michigan Council on Economic Education

The MBA, and its member banks, has been an ally and fighter of economic literacy alongside MCEE for most of its 25 years. The following are some programs and lesson plans offered through the MCEE.

Who gets the Money?
Explains how benefit/cost analysis is used to make decisions about credit-worthiness.

High School (Lesson Plans)

Timing is Everything
Through role playing, students identify the opportunity costs of spending and saving and discover the relationship among time, amount saved, and the interest rate and its impact on savings growth.

The Credit Connection
Explains how supply and demand determine interest rates and how changes in interest rates affect savers’ and borrowers’ choices.

ABA Education Foundation's Teach Children to Save Program
More than 5,500 bankers connect with 500,000 students in classrooms and after school programs to share "real life" lessons about money. These efforts help young people take an important first step in mastering their financial ABCs -- learning how to save. A "Cookie-cutter" toolkit is available for purchase from the ABA or through the MBA.

ABA Education Foundation's Get Smart About Credit Day Program
As a banker you are uniquely qualified to educate consumers about the wise use of credit. This national event helps young people learn the dos and don’ts about credit now, so they’ll make smart decisions later. Join bankers across the nation in educating high school and college students on Get Smart About Credit Day. A "Cookie-cutter" toolkit is available for purchase from the ABA or through the MBA.

America’s Promise
Banker volunteers are teaching financial skills, providing resources for youth in after school programs and working through America’s Promise to build a brighter future at the local and national levels.

Jump$tart
The Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy seeks to improve the personal financial literacy of young adults. Jump$tart’s purpose is to evaluate the financial literacy of young adults; develop, disseminate and encourage the use of curriculum standards for grades K-12; and promote the teaching of personal finance.

Scholastic - Money in Motion
A financial literacy program designed to help teachers educate their students on basic financial skills. Targeted to students in grades 7-12 and using reproducible handouts and problem-solving exercises. The material covers a broad range of subjects.

Wells Fargo – Hands on Banking
A useful site to send children to learn about banking issues. The site is interactive allowing students to take self-guided tours through the lessons. It has sections for Elementary, Junior and Senior High, and Adult students. It also offers resources for teachers. Products are available in English or Spanish.